About the Shadow Moses codecs

[GaryCXJk]

While archiving the Smash DOJO, I stumbled upon something strange. When I started to save the most recent videos, I found out that the videos were stored on another server, the Japanese Nintendo site, in a sub-domain specially created for data. After I downloaded the Flash 8 versions, I then found out that the Flash movie still directed to this server for the movie files instead of the relative location. So, I then decided to decompile it, redirect it back to the relative path and recompile it.

When I started with the codec movies, I assumed they used the same size as the video used in the "Snake joins the Brawl!" update. However, I soon found out that this wasn't the case.

In fact, the videos don't use the normally used 4:3 ratio, but they also don't use the wide screen 16:9 ratio. You can see in the following image where the movie is loaded. I have colored the loading box green. In normal cases, this box is just empty and transparent.

Note that even though the size of the box normally doesn't make a difference, Nintendo used an adjusted script so that the size does define the scale. This is how the movie is actually scaled.

This got me to thinking. What if this codec intermission doesn't get played before the stage, but also doesn't interrupt the game? What if this codec message gets displayed below or above the scene, just like the special taunt from Fox and Falco, or the Pokémon Trainer's Final Smash caption? This has been suggested before, but now I think we have a small hint at that.

It's not solid evidence or proof, but we can assume that it may work like this.

 

[NeoShade]

Sounds very likely to me. I couldn't figure out why they would put those in the game if its just going to stop play. Then I thought it could turn into a "tutorial" like thing from melee's "how to play".

Hehe.... "Solid" evidence.... pun intended?

 

[OmegaXXII]

pretty good theory perhaps it might act kinda as a sub-screen below or above the screen while smashing, that's my best guess

 

[maxpower1227]

I just thought that they would happen before a battle, and you'd have the option to skip them.

 

[Kashakunaki]

Hmm. No, I think he's on to something. Very nice work!

 

[THEmSHAKE]

Its nice to have a theory based on logic and research. Good Job.

 

[O D I N]

This is the most 'sound' idea I've heard regarding this. Good thinking.

 

[GaryCXJk]

It could also explain why the codec conversations use sprites instead of rendered images. Even though the Wii is perfectly capable of rendering small images on the fly (Pokémon Stadium is a good example of that), it would still mean a slightly bigger chance of lag due to the fact that these models should also be loaded just for these codecs.

 

[Doc Chronic]

thats some good sleuthing man

 

[burrito]

It makes sense, but the codecs in the Metal Gear series have always taken up the whole screen. It would be kind of weird if it were otherwise

 

[WarMachine]

It could also explain why the codec conversations use sprites instead of rendered images. Even though the Wii is perfectly capable of rendering small images on the fly (Pokémon Stadium is a good example of that), it would still mean a slightly bigger chance of lag due to the fact that these models should also be loaded just for these codecs.

I think it's more intentional artistic effect. Looks exactly like the codec calls looked in MGS.

 

[Brockman5]

yeah but at the start of each call it says press select...so what does that mean?

 

[GaryCXJk]

yeah but at the start of each call it says press select...so what does that mean?

It means that none of the controllers used for Super Smash Bros. Brawl have a select button, and that every Metal Gear Solid codec screen has the "press select" text.